Liver Donor Requirements & Qualifications

Live liver donors are relatives, friends or close acquaintances of the person who needs the liver transplant. Donors require a
compatible blood type and body size as determined by height and weight.
Potential liver donors qualify by having
no serious medical condition such as liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.

There
are certain situations that may require the liver donor to go through
additional steps to determine whether donation is in their best interest. These
include donors who:

Are
over age 50

Have
a remote history of substance abuse

Have
a body mass index (BMI) greater than 28

Have
a first-degree relative with certain types of liver disease

There
are certain circumstances in which a person would be ineligible to donate. This
includes donors who:

Are
under age 18

Suffer
from heart disease or lung disease

Have
an incompatible blood type

Have
HIV or hepatitis

Are active substance abusers

Have
a psychiatric illness

Compatible Blood
Types for Liver Transplant

The blood type of the donor and recipient do not
have to be identical, but they must be compatible. Blood group “O” is called the “universal
donor” and may donate blood or organs to any other blood type; however, they may only
receive blood or organs from another person with type “O.” A
patient with blood type “O” can only receive a liver from a donor who is also
blood type “O.” Patients with blood type “AB” may receive a liver from donors
of any blood type. Patients with blood
type “A” need a liver donor who is “O” or “A” and patients with blood type “B”
need a donor who is “O” or “B.” If you’re not compatible with the intended
recipient, you will not meet qualifications to donate your liver to that
person, but maybe another friend or relative will.